4 13 Landscape Nevada

Official Publication of the Nevada Landscape Association | www.nevadanla.com

APRIL 2013

Landscape Industry

Certified Written Exam & Training Day Page 4 & 5 LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY 2013 TEST APPLICATION Page 6

Soil Preparation–

The Key to a Successful Lawn

Page 7

CARING FOR TREES IN TURFGRASSES Page 8 Managing Thatch Page 10

P.O. Box 7431 Reno, NV 89510

Nevada Landscape Assoc.

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID RENO, NV PERMIT NO. 379

calendar of events PLANET Day of Service April 22, 2013 Nationwide www.planetdayofservice.org Landscape Industry Certified Written Exam Saturday, April 27, 2013 Reno, NV Landscape Industry Certified Written Exam & Training day Saturday, June 8, 2013 Reno, NV LANDSCAPE Industry Certified Written Exam Friday, August 9, 2013 Reno, NV LANDSCAPE Industry Certified Field Test Saturday, August 10, 2013 Reno, NV

For All Your Specialty Turf and Ornamental Needs.

Matt Melarkey | Christina Volsko | Nate Weber 855 East Greg, Sparks, NV

775-358-6166 2

Landscape Nevada

APRIL 2013

www.nevadanla.com

PUBLISHER Landscape Nevada is published by: Kathy Hess, Just Imagine Marketing and Design 775.746.4138; kathy@justimaginemktg.com

NEVADA LANDSCAPE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Matt Melarkey, President — Crop Production Services (775) 358-6166 Sara Anderson, President Elect /Director — All Seasons Lawn & Landscaping

(775) 329-2744

Heidi Kratsch, Director — University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (775) 784-4848 Jason Perry, Director — Western Turf and Hardscapes

(775) 356-8873

A Letter from the President Dear Members, Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I will just add two more.

‘Nuff said.

Matt Melarkey

Nevada Landscape Association President

As professionals in the turfgrass industry, we are continually in search of new varieties that tout drought tolerance and disease resistance, but still maintain the dark green luxurious texture of a lawn that would grace the cover of Sunset magazine. One of the aspects of a successful sod installation is not even the sod itself—it’s the condition of the soil.

Read more on page 7.

Tim Laskowski, Director — Signature Landscapes

(775) 857-4333 Dan George, Director — Century Landscapes

(775) 358-5222

Leslie Lyles, Director — Stewardship Horticultural

(775) 849-1215 Steve Churchillo, Director — City of Reno Urban Forester

(775) 334-2270 David Squier, Director — Reno Green Landscaping (775)852-8952

LANDSCAPE NEVADA is the official publication of the Nevada Landscape Association, P.O. Box 7431, Reno, Nevada, 89510, phone 775.673.0404 or 800.645.9794, fax 775.673.5828, website: www.nevadanla.com, email: nlainfo@nevadanla.com.

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS & SUBMISSIONS Write to Landscape Nevada at the address above or email the editor at kathy@justimaginemktg.com or phone 775.746.4138.

MISSION STATEMENT The Nevada Landscape Association provides leadership by promoting professionalism and integrity within the Green Industry through education, high standards and community involvement. We guide policy and uphold responsible resource management for the beautification and enhancement of our community.

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GET CERTIFIED! Our Sponsors

Certifiy In One or All Five Designations

ASK ABOUT OUR $100 TEST DISCOUNTS

(1) Softscape Install

(2) Hardscape Install (3) Irrigation

(4) Turfgrass Maint.

(5) Ornamental Maint.

TESTING DATES:

April 27, 2013

At Western Nevada Supply Co. 950 S Rock Blvd Sparks, NV 89431 (775) 359-5800

Multiple Written Test Opportunities!

June 8 & August 9, 2013 Hands-On Testing August 10 At Truckee Meadows Community College 7000 Dandini Blvd, Reno, NV 89512 (775) 674-7660

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For test application and more information, visit the NLA website & click on the “Certification” tab. Or call Jim Stanhouse at 775-673-0404 or email jim@nevadanla.com.

e of personal achievement. sed respect and recognition in the industry or profession.

4 Landscape Nevada sed professional credibility among customers and

FREE Hands-On Class Review & Training Seminars

TEST TRAINING June 8, 2013 @TMCC

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GET A HEAD START ON THE UPCOMING CERTIFICATION TEST Multiple Written Test Opportunities visit website for information

: To lp e H n O sd n a H e iv ce e R 1) Demonstrate Test Problems Exam 2) Answer Questions Related to 3) Study Written Test Questions 4) See Live Test Trials 5) Review Skills to Pass Test

help YOU This FREE seminar is designed to stry. succeed in today’s landcape indu

June 8th Training Truckee Meadows Community College Dandini Campus

For test application and more information, visit the NLA website & click on the “Certification” tab. Or call Jim Stanhouse at 673-0404 or jim@nevadanla.com.

R.S.V.P. 673-0404 or info@nevadanla.com

WWW.NEVADANLA.COM

(Located at the Landscape Industry Certified-Technician permanent exam site)

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2013 Test Application Applicant/Personal Information

Test Fees

Name __________________________________________________

Home Address Street/PO Box

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City/State/Zip __________________________________________ Phone

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Fax

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Email

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Work Address Company Name __________________________________________ Street/PO Box

Phone

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Fax

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Release results to:

Applicant

Retest Fees

Member retest fees are $25 plus $10 per problem.

Example: Retest + one problem............................................... $35 Non-member retest fees are $50 plus $10 per problem.

Example: Retest + one problem............................................... $60

Training Manuals: Highly recommended to assist you in preparation for the test.

Member $99 Non-member $125 Installation

Irrigation

Maintenance

__________________________________________

(Check one only) Softscape Installation Hardscape Installation Turfgrass Maintenance Ornamental Maintenance Irrigation

Deadline: Application must be postmarked or faxed at least two weeks prior to the test date.

Application/Payment Information: Please return application with check made payable to the Nevada Landscape Association, or provide credit card information below, to: Nevada Landscape Association P.O. Box 7431 Reno, NV 89510-7431 Fax (775) 673-5828

Please charge my:

Check if you would like the test book in Spanish.

Check if you require special testing accommodations.

Check if you are retaking this test.

Retest Problems __________________________________________ Year you entered the Green Industry

(To become Landscape Industry Certified, PLANET recommends that you have a minimum of 2,000 hours work experience. Please check your work experience.)

Landscape Nevada

Cancellations received prior to the deadline date will be refunded the registration fee minus a $50 administration fee for a full test, and $25 a retest. Cancellations received after the deadline date receive no refund.

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IMPORTANT!

1 year (2,000 hour minimum) 5–10 years

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Please register me for the following designation:

6

NLA or PLANET member............................................$195 per test Pay for four tests and receive the fifth test FREE! Non-members...........................................................$245 per test

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Questions?

Contact Jim Stanhouse, Test Administrator Phone: (775) 673-0404 Email: Jim@nevadanla.com

—The Key to a Successful Lawn

By Cary Yamamoto General Manager, Dayton Valley Turf

A

s professionals in the turfgrass industry, we are continually in search of new varieties that tout drought tolerance and disease resistance, but still maintain the dark green luxurious texture of a lawn that would grace the cover of Sunset magazine. Although these new varieties have progressed leaps and bounds in terms of these characteristics over the old Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue varieties, one of the aspects of a successful sod installation is not even the sod itself—it’s the condition of the soil.

What makes ideal soil for planting sod? We could go into depth about soil composition, but in basic terms the two most important aspects of creating a successful lawn are having adequate soil drainage and depth1.

Nevada soils are extreme in that some areas have sand and others have clay. Sandy areas have trouble holding water at the root zone and can cause drought stress, while clay soils hold too much water and lead to root rot diseases. Having both soil types leads to great difficulty in proper irrigation leading to an over and under watering situation in the lawn. It’s important in these situations to amend your soil to create an even soil profile to maintain proper drainage. In addition, promote surface drainage by grading soil away from structures and avoid swales that will tend to pool water during irrigation sets.

Remarkably, lawns

maintained with the goal of promoting the soil

biology handle drought stress better than

lawns that have been

maintained solely through chemical methods.

Soil depth refers to the depth of viable topsoil in the landscape to sustain the lawn. Nevada has one of the lowest amounts of organic material in the soil averaging less than 1 percent2. Productive agricultural soils contain upwards of 5 percent. Adding organic material significantly improves sandy soils by increasing the soil’s water holding capacity and in clay soils helps to loosen the soil, thus improving drainage. Choose high quality organic material that has been composted properly to avoid weed seeds, insect eggs and potential plant disease. Avoid un-composted manure as it may damage or burn plants due to high nitrogen and salt levels.

Adding these materials plays an important role in building soil biology. Promoting healthy soils which include earthworms, insects, bacteria and fungi is the keystone in maintaining a healthy lawn.

Remarkably, lawns maintained with the goal of promoting the soil biology handle drought stress better than lawns that have been maintained solely through chemical methods3.

In conclusion, the importance of soil preparation when installing sod cannot be emphasized enough. It’s similar to painting your house. You can have the prettiest, most expensive paint money can buy, but if you don’t take the steps to prepare the surface, you will end up with peeling and cracking paint in short order. In all cases, the end goal is to create a lawn that is healthy and ultimately adds value to your client’s home.

Paul Tukey Organic Lawn Care Manual (Massachusetts, Storey Publishing, 2007), 37 Melody Hefner, JoAnne Skelly, Susan Donaldson, “Nevada’s Soils-Worth the Toil” Fact Sheet-09-14, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, 2009 3 Paul Tukey Organic Lawn Care Manual (Massachusetts, Storey Publishing, 2007), 13 1 2

www.nevadanla.com

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Caring for Trees in Turfgrasses

By Wendy Hanson Mazet University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

W

hen we think of home and commercial landscapes, we picture an area of beauty and functionality.

Drive through any community in America, and you will see trees planted in the front yards. For people living in northern Nevada, it is no different. We have trees, and many, if not most, are planted in turfgrass lawns.

For homeowners, a statuesque tree surrounded by dark green grass provides a relaxing park setting; it can also increase property values and provide shade that reduces summer cooling costs. Unfortunately, when the care required by these two different species, grass and trees, is not provided, lawns ridden with surface tree roots, trees and turf declining from drought stress and unattractive landscapes result.

The landscape professional’s role is to educate homeowners to avoid the costly and unattractive mistakes of improper turf and tree care and attempt to remedy those mistakes when they occur. To do that, an understanding of both species’ growth requirements is necessary.

Grasses are native and adapted to thrive in open, highly competitive areas receiving seasonal moisture. When grasses are maintained as urban area turfgrasses, their dense, aggressive root systems are driven to compete with trees for water and nutrients, and they must adapt to the conditions provided by the homeowner. Most homeowners water turfgrass shallowly and frequently, with water penetrating the soil less than 6 inches, and cut the grass back to three inches or shorter every week. This type of care generates shallow, dense masses of roots, and along with over-fertilizing, a thick layer of thatch can develop. The short mowing also makes it difficult for grass to survive the heat of the summer.

In contrast, trees are woody perennial plants with the ability to live hundreds of years when grown in their native forest environments with little or no vegetation under the dense shade created by the canopy. There, the soils are rich in organic matter and these conditions encourage large expansive root systems. It is not uncommon for a sixty-foot tree in a moist environment to have a root system that covers over an acre of land.

Tree root systems, which are vital to tree feeding, watering and survival, are primarily made up of lateral spreading anchor and storage roots with smaller feeder roots absorbing the majority of moisture. When trees are primarily watered by lawn sprinklers, the root system becomes shallow and closer to the surface where the water is available. Most tree root systems in urban settings can be found in the top 18 to 24 inches of soil. Many homes have the issue of large roots from theirs or their neighbors’ trees creating mounds in the lawn. Occasional deep watering of trees will encourage tree roots to grow deeper into the soil.

When caring for trees in lawn, knowledge of their different growth requirements will help you to educate your clients to provide an appropriate environment in which turf and trees both thrive. Accommodating those different requirements by eliminating lawn under the canopy of trees, creating islands with compost or mulch covering the bare ground as a barrier between the tree and the turf, and deeply and less frequently watering trees will reduce competition and maintenance and improve the beauty of your landscapes. These practices will also prevent mower and weed-eater damage to tree trunks as they improve the health of your trees.

8

Landscape Nevada

Choosing Drought Tolerant Plants

By Reno Green Landscaping

N

orthern Nevada has experienced high temperatures and very little precipitation for quite a few years. These dry conditions can drastically affect your landscaping, not to mention staggering water bills. There are many drought tolerant plants and flowers available that will not only help you conserve water, but also add beautiful color and texture to your property.

Here are just a few examples: Artemisia Schmidtiana Silver Mound. This is one of the most popular foliate perennials. Artemisia forms a low cushion of ferny, silvery-grey leaves and is a perfect choice for hot, dry areas.

Artemisia Schmidtiana Silver Mound Eriogonum umbellatum Sulfur Buckwheat

Eriogonum umbellatum Sulfur Buckwheat. This beautiful plant can withstand sun, heat, drought and wind, making it an ideal choice for our dry climate. Flowers range from yellow to orange or red.

Delosperma cooperi Hardy Iceplant. This great groundcover has succulent needlelike leaves and bright purple flowers.

Nepeta x faassenii Catmint. This mound of lavender and aromatic grayish leaves is especially hardy and very easy to grow.

Sedum Autumn Joy. This plant is dependable and very low maintenance. The pink and copper flowers attract butterflies and grows to about two feet tall and wide with wide succulent stems and leaves.

Helictotrchon sempervirens Blue Oat Grass. This grass is the best choice for accents and looks attractive year-round.

Yucca filamentosa Adam’s Needle. This hardy plant features long, blue-green leaves and fragrant cream flowers in the early summer.

Choosing drought tolerant plant material will save you money while adding splendor to your landscaping. Minimizing your water usage doesn’t mean you have to reduce the amount of plant material in your landscaping. In addition, knowing where to place the plants for maximum health and growth will also help achieve maximum water savings.

NEW members

Better Idea Group Reggar Tree Farm Zip It Tree Ties

To join... please call the Nevada Landscape office

at 673-0404 or visit our website at www.nevadanla.com

Outdoor Power www.nevadanla.com

9

By Bill Carlos, Washoe County Horticulturist Wilbur D. May Arboretum & Botanical Garden

T

hatch is a layer of tight brown spongy organic material found just above the soil-line in turf. The majority of thatch is made up of an accumulation of partly decomposed stems and roots of grass. Thatch tends to be more of a problem in sod-forming grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue and Bermuda. Thatch rarely occurs in bunch grasses, such as tall fescue.

Thatch Mat layer Soil line

What Causes Thatch? Thatch is caused by many things: • Poor soil conditions • Sandy soils • Excessive clay-type soils • Dry soil • Compacted soils • Over-watering • Water-logged soils, ponding • Salty soils and soils with a high pH • Reduced soil microorganisms • Infrequent or excessive fertilization and high cutting • Continual and repeated applications of certain pesticides • Cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass listed in the table to the right Understanding the Layers of Thatch There are two distinct layers of thatch (Figure 1.0). The first layer is found at the base of the grass plant near the soil surface. It is primarily composed of dead leaves, roots and shoots (lignin).

The second layer, the mat layer, is the most difficult to control and remove. The mat layer is found above the soil line and below the crown of the grass. It is comprised of intermingled decaying roots and shoots. When this layer becomes thick, it can hold water, like a sponge. However, if it becomes dry, it will shed water.

Fig. 1.0. Layer of thatch, mat and soil line.

Benefits and Problems of Thatch Some thatch is beneficial. Thatch is durable and increases wear tolerance.

Thatch also insulates the roots and the growing points (crowns) of grass against extreme temperatures. However, when thatch becomes thicker than 1/2 inch, it creates a favorable environment for pests and disease. The dead leaves, stems and roots found in the thatch layer can harbor diseases.

Both thatch and the mat layer create ideal conditions for insects to feed and over winter (billbugs and melting-out disease).

A buildup of thatch greater than ½ inch also interferes with mowing.

Over time, the wheels of the lawn mower can make wheel ruts if the mowing patterns are not changed weekly. Ruts lower the wheels and the cutting blade. When the mower wheels follow the ruts, the blade cuts the lawn close to the ground, scalping it. This damages the crown of the lawn and take months to recover. To find out more about managing thatch please see the University of Nevada FS-04-73, Controlling and Preventing Thatch.

References:

• Beard, J.B. 1983. Turf Management of Golf. Courses. Macmillian Publishing Company. New York.

• Branaranayake, W., Qian Y.L., Ojina, D.S., and Follett R.F. 2003. Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Changes in Turfgrass Systems Using CENTURY Model. Agronomy Journal. 95: 558-663 • Callahan, M. L, Sanders L.W., Parham, M.J., Harper, C.A., Lester L.D. and McDonald E.R. 1998. Crops Science. 38:181-187.

• Kosiki, T., Skinner, V. 2004. Lawn Care. Fact Sheet. No 7.202. Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. Fort Collins, Co. • Pound, W. E., Street, J.R. 2004. Thatch: The Accumulation in Lawns. Fact Sheet HYG-4008. Ohio State University.

• Taylor, R.G., Gray, J., Abernathy, S. 1998. Thatch Management For Home Lawns. Texas Agriculture Extension Service. College Station, TX.

Aerating Helps Improve Lawn Health. Core Aeration...

3 3 3 3 3 10

Landscape Nevada

Loosens compacted soil and Improves water and nutrient penetration Increases oxygen levels in the soil Encourages deep rooting Encourages growth of beneficial thatch-decomposing soil microorganisms Reduces water runoff

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